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South Vinemont

James P. Kaetz, Auburn University

South Vinemont is located in north-central Cullman County in the north-central part of the state. It has a mayor/city council form of government.

History

The town of South Vinemont (or simply Vinemont, as it is often referred to) was located near the Louisville and Nashville Railroad at one of the highest points in the state: 1,100 feet above sea level. The towns original name was Pinnacle, in honor of its lofty perch. Settlers began to arrive in 1871, with Joseph Fromhold being the first in the area. The first post office opened in 1887.

Farmers who followed discovered that the soil was ideal for growing grapes, and soon several wineries were established. In January 1898, a group of Chicago businessmen formed the Alabama Vineyard and Winery Company, and settlers from Chicago followed in large numbers. The town adopted the name Vinemont later that year. A hotel was built around 1900 to accommodate visitors who came for the mountain air, and the Vinemont Canning and Processing Company also opened that year. The wine industry did not flourish, however, and today little remains of the vineyards except for those vines cultivated for home use.

Vinemont was incorporated in 1961; however, when town representatives delivered its incorporation paperwork to the state capital, they were informed that the name "Vinemont" was taken already. They chose the name South Vinemont.

The town recently began installing a complete sewage system. South Vinemont's fire station is rated a Class 3 station, a designation that only eight percent of fire stations nationwide have attained.

Demographics

South Vinemont's population according to the 2010 Census was 749. Of that number, 83.2 percent of respondents identified themselves as white, 23.6 percent as Hispanic or Latino, 2.0 percent as Asian 1.2 percent as Native American, 0.5 percent as two or more races, and 0.1 percent as African American. The towns median household income, according to 2010 estimates, was $28,472, and the per capita income was $14,537.

Employment

According to 2010 Census estimates, the work force in South Vinemont was divided among the following industrial categories: